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"Just a quick stop on the way to school," I explained.
"All right," Mom said. "We’re going inside and getting things started. Isabeau is coming a bit later." Isabeau was my other grandmother.
I looked at Mom questioningly, but she averted her gaze. That was my clue that it had been another crazy morning in the LeBlanc-Broussard household. Then again, that wasn't unusual at all. My parents and both sets of grandparents lived together in a large mansion in the Garden District. Considering they'd once been at odds, this was a feat in itself. Both sets of grandparents had been against my parents marrying, but that was all in the past now. Their house was enormous, and everyone had their privacy. Still, some days were moreinterestingthan others.
"Thank you again for filling in," I said, getting to my feet. "The new chef arrives tomorrow."
"Are we sure this Scarlett's good enough?" Celine asked. "I mean, she's only thirtysomething. How does she know the finer techniques of cooking?"
I cleared my throat. "Gran,I’mthirty-four."
"Pssh, you know what I mean."
"Initially, she'll be on probation. She wasn’t my first choice either," I admitted, "but her references are great."
"She's never been a chef," Celine continued.
I’d had this conversation with her and Isabeau quite a few times, and I was starting to lose my patience. I had the utmost respect for my parents and grandparents, and I understood that this was a family business and all. I didn’t like them questioning my decisions. Mom withheld an opinion because she wasn’t involved in the restaurant business at all.
“No, but a sous-chef from a Michelin-starred restaurant in Seattle will be a great addition,” I said in a measured tone.
“Isabeau and I will be here tomorrow morning when she arrives, anyway,” Celine said.
Mom threw me an alarmed look, and I knew exactly what she was thinking. Isabeau was going to scare away the new chef. She could have that effect on people.
"We'll see," I said vaguely.
"What time will she be there?"
"I haven't gotten confirmation yet. I'll let you know." I was absolutelynotgoing to let her know. I’d welcome Scarlett personally.
Mom chuckled and hooked her arm through Celine’s. "Come on, Mom, let's go to the kitchen. I’ll grab a bite, and then I'll go to the gallery."
My mom had never been interested in the family business. She'd been the original rebel. I respected her for always being strong-minded. But then again, everyone was—on both sides of the family.
After they’d each kissed Bella’s cheek, we were on our way. I'd found a school close to the restaurant. It was only fifteen minutes away on foot, and today was an especially good day for a walk. The Quarter was always empty and eerily silent in the mornings. Most businesses hadn't even opened up, except for coffee shops.
Bella looked around curiously at all the shops, her eyes wide when we passed the voodoo store. We hadn't taken a stroll around here in a while; the weather had been too unstable.
“What is that?" she asked, pointing at a doll that had several pins sticking out of it.
"I don't know," I said. "Ask Isabeau."
Isabeau had worked as a tour guide for a time on top of running the restaurant business. My ex-wife and I had named Bella after her—it was short for my grandmother’s given name.
"Yes, I will," Bella said.
We moved on quickly down Royal Street and turned left onto St. Peter Street. I hurried as we passed the crossing with Bourbon Street farther down. Usually, I tried to avoid taking her anywhere near Bourbon, as it was the more risqué section of the city, but early mornings were quiet here, too, except the occasional drunkard.
"Daaad," she drawled a few minutes later when we saw the school in the distance, "can we go to Café Du Monde after I finish school?"
"We'll see," I said. Keeping things vague was the key to success with the women in my family. If I said "Maybe," she’d take it as a yes, and I hadn't yet checked my schedule. I wasn't even sure if I’d finish in time to pick her up, and I didn't want to make promises I couldn't keep.
"Okay," she replied. “And Daaaad, when I go to Mom's house, can I take Mr. Teddy with me?"
"Sure thing, cricket. If you want, we can buy you a Mr. Teddy to have in your other room too."
"Daddy!" She shook her head so vehemently that her pigtails bounced around. "We can't do that. Mr. Teddy would be soooo offended," She drew out the “o”adorably.
